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This year is an important year for artists working across commercial theatre, as we renegotiate the Equity agreement for all artists working in the sector outside of the West End of London - including most regional tours, pantomimes and a number of non-West End producing houses.

Our claim has been put together after extensive consultation with all artists who have worked on it over the last three years, compiled by a working party of experienced members from the sector – working performers and stage managers who serve on Equity committees and as deps on shows across the country.

Our claim has a straightforward purpose – to set minima that represent what producers can afford to pay. The bigger the show, the bigger the producer, the more that should be returned to the artists involved.

We’ve also heard loud and clear that subsistence and touring allowance is no longer meaningfully contributing to the costs of artists on tour or coming to London to rehearse. Along with proposing a restructure to end unfair clauses like the reduction in touring allowance to subsistence after four weeks in a venue, and a significant rise of around 20% in touring allowance, we’re proposing that subsistence rises to match the rate of touring allowance in every case.

These are your proposals, proposals to make your working lives better and fairer. However, the managers will make their claims of us, and we need to defend existing terms as much as make claims to improve them.

We know that not every proposal of ours will be agreed – and we know that all will meet with resistance. Commercial producers won’t write us a blank cheque, which is why we need you standing up in support of our claim.

Encourage non-members to join our union and stand with us to make our voice louder, and watch out for the newsletters which will keep you updated as to where we are.

The worlds of the media, arts and entertainment are often seen as glamorous, but a survey of 4,000 workers has revealed these industries are "hotspots" of bullying, with more than half of those questioned (56%) saying they had been bullied, harassed or discriminated against at work.People who contributed to a survey, commissioned by the Federation of Entertainment Unions, ranged from household names, top screenwriters and performers to those at the beginning of their careers. The results showed shocking levels of ill-treatment and inappropriate behaviour and a culture of silence, with only a third of those suffering bullying and harassment reporting the incidents.

An Equity Deputy (sometimes referred to as Equity Dep) is the face of the union in theatres, studios and anywhere else Equity members are working. The Deputy is the union representative for the company they are working with.